Ball-cage.



H. S. HART.

BALL GAGE.

APPLIOATIOK 1 11.111) nov. 5, 1910.

Patented Apr.-4, 1911.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD S. HART, OF NEW BRITAIN ,OONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO TIIE HART&.COOLEY COMPANY, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OFCONNECTICUT.

BALL-GAGE.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HowAnn S. IIAR'I, a citizen of the United States,residing at KeW Britain, county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball- Cages, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description. 2.

My invention relates to improvements in annular ball cages for ballbearings.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ballbearing complete showing the cage in place. Fig. 2 is an inside view ofone side of the ball cage before assembling. Fig. 3 is an edge elevationof the two parts of the ball cage placed together in final position, butnot yet secured together. Fig. 4 is an edge elevation of one part, orsection, of the ball cage. Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line w-m,Fig. I. Fig. 6 .is a cross section on the line yy, Fig. 1.

1 and 2 represent the two bearing rings of a ball bearing of ordinaryconstruction too well understood to require detailed description, 'itbeing suflicient to merely state that both rings 1 and 2 are providedwith the usual oppositely arranged ball race-way grooves in which arelocated balls 3-.3.

My improved cage is so constructed that.

a maximum number of balls may be provided and yet said cage will operateto effectively hold all of the balls slightly apart so that there willbe no rubbing contact of one ball against another. The cage is made upof two ring-plates 4-5 struck up from sheet-metal, bothibeing preferablyrecessed to form shallow ball-receiving-pockets, as

shown, said recesses so conforming to the balls that the walls of saidrecesses alone will prevent said b'alls, when the bearing is assembled,from moving toward or away from one another to any material extent. 5are clenching fingers formed on the outer edge of one only of saidplates, 4.5. In this instance said fingers are formed at the outer edgeof the ring-plate 5 and project laterally therefrom so as to overstand,or overlap, theopposite ring-plate 4. The

number of fingersemployed may, if desired,

and, indeed, as shown, correspond in number to the spaces between theballs 3 -3 but a lesser number of fingers may be employed since saidfingers in no way serve to space the balls. that work being whollyaccomplished by the walls of'the aforesaid shallow ball recesses. Whenthe bearing, such as illustrated, is to be assembled, the balls arefirst inserted between the rings 1-'2 in any desired manner, after whichthe rin -plates 45 are applied to the opposite si es, following which,the ends of the fin ers 5 are curled down around the ring 5, t erebytying together both of said plates and causing them to embrace and holdthe balls in the desired spaced relation. The outer edges of the plates4-5 are preferably shouldered.

at points 4. -5", said shoulders abutting each other (when the rings areassembled) in such a manner as to prevent too snug clamping of saidrings upon the balls, whereby said balls may be permitted to turn at alltimes with the desired degree of uniform freedom. Inasmuch as when therings are assembled the fingers 5 will extend outside of the ring 4, itis obvious that the shouldered portions 5 -5", which constitute in 1part the spacing means, should be bent down into the plane of the metalof the ring 4 oposite thereto andagainstwhich said shoulered ortions 5are designed to abut.

It s ould be understood that I contemplate that various changes in theabove described structure may be made without departing from the spiritor scope of this invention, for example each ball" recess referred tomay be formed in any way so long as it furnishes a, wall to retain thein] standing therein. To that end, the recess might be formed bystriking the metal back to form ashallow cupped shaped cavity or mightbe punched out in the form of a round opening.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In an annular ball cage, two ring lates, both of said plates having 0posite y arranged ball receiving recesses tlierein, a plurality offingers integrally formed with, and at, the outer edge of one of saidplates only, said fingers extending laterally and engaged wlth theopposite ring plate to hold both ring plates in cooperative relation.

2. In an annular ball cage, a pair of annular ring plates, ballreceiving recesses in each plate, each recess being arranged topartially embrace a ball, a plurality of fingers on the outer edge'ofone of said plates only, said fingers corresponding in number to thespaces between the ball receiving recesses, said fingers extendinglaterally from the plate on which they are formed, the ends of saidfingers being curled around the other plate'to hold both plates incooperative relation. p

3. In an annular ball cage, two ringplates,

- one of saidplates having ballreceivmg reoesses thereln, a plurality offingers on the outer edge of one of said ring plates only, said fingersextending laterally and engaging the opposite ring plate to tie bothring plates together, andmeans formed at the 10 outer edge of one ofsaid plates to hold said plates in proper spaced relation;

HOWARD S. HART.

Witnesses:

NORMAN P. CooLEY, R. C(TINCHELL.

